The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-10-13

''Going to run awayr' repeated Tad,
in tones of the utmost establishment.
What for?"
WELL" was the reluctant answer
"there are a good many reasons. Tn
tired of being thrashed so much, fol
one thing" said Joe, squirming around
rather uneasily, as though he found
sitting on the edge of the piazza un-
comfortable, land I'm tired of farm
work, too. Besides" he added, boldly,
Il want to be detective-Mr. Bios
som said he'd bet I'd make real smart
one"
Then, bine-bye, you'H be goin' off, y
continued Joe, mourntully, as Tad
stared at his friend in CONSERVATION too
deep for words, land you're the only
fellow l ever cared any thing for, any
way"
No, indeed, won'tr eagerly ex-
claimed Tad; I'm going to stay here
and grow up-Miss Smiths my own
Aunt Rhody, that 1 never saw-we
only found it out by accident" And
Tad related all, with which our reader
is familiar, to Joe's open-mouthed
amazement.
"Joe," said Tad, gently, "what do
you s'pose your mother would do with
out her boy?"
That was touching a tender spot.
Joe loved his mother better than any
thing or anybody in the wide world,
and Joe was the very apple of her eye.
The boy drew his sleeve across his face,
while the visions of being detective
We're entirely ohscured by some trouble
some tears.
Come, old fellow" continued Tad,
throwing his arm about his friend S
neck, you know you don't mean it.
Why, it would just about kill your folks
to have you go off this way; and then
what would 1 do, if you should run
away?"
"I-guess -I-won't-go, after
all" said Joe, brokenly, and the de-
termination cheered him wonderfully.
In five minutes he was chuckling oyer
the incidents of Edwards capture, and
the conversation became general.
"But tell you, joe" Tad remarked,
as he rose to his feet, ''seems to me
I've been getting considerable NOR n
my share of good things, for one day
five hundred and fifty dollars, and
Aunt Rhoda into the bargain"
1T hasn't been such a bad day all
round, when you come to think of it, -
responded Joe, with his customary
grin. There was Mr.. Anterior got
his sachel, Mis-. Mason her cloak and
things, Cap'n and Mis- Flagg has got
somethin' to talk about, Miss Smith got
Mysteries, Mr.. Blossom got Edwards,
Edwards got caught, and l." said Joe,
as fine summing up, ''got ride-ten
dollars from Mr.. Blossom for upsetting
a buggy-and a jolly good lickin' for
drivin' a stable-team, when I'd been
told not to-"
And Joe, with lightened heart and
a friendly nod, stole back to the shelter
of the paternal roof, reaching his
chamber in safety; while Tad sought
his own little room, where, with a very
full heart, he knelt by his bedside and
thanked the Good Father of all mercies
for the wonderful way in which He had
directed his boyish steps. Then Tad
undressed and went to bed, just as the
tall clock downstairs struck twelve,
and thus ended the day of so many
wonderful events.
Thus, too, my simple story is virtual
" ended-with the future of its charac-
tiers l have nothing now to do. At the
present time
Tad Thorne is an active, growing
boy. of good principles and industrious.
habits, a capital scholar, and source
of constant comfort and companionship
to
Miss Rhoda Smith, who seems to have
grown ten years younger since the
events of which have been writing.
She has formally adopted Tad, and is
more proud of him even than is
Captain Flagg, who looks upon him.
self use his own words-as 'the
insterment, under Providence, which
was the means of interducin' Tad to
his Aunt Rhody." He has, at the
earnest request of his wife and adopted
daughter, abandoned his perilous call
inc, and turned over the command OF
the coaster to Ephraim-now Cap'n
Small.
Polly Flagg is growing up into one
of the incest girls | ever knew. That
she has never been able to discover any
thing further as to her parentage
gives her no uneasiness-in fact, she
gives it little thought, being a healthy,
sensible young miss, with no romantic
fancies as to mysterious birthrights"
and the like. She is trying to live so
that in the fullneSs of Gods time
she shall meet her own angel mother,
who so long ago was laid under the
daisies which nod above the green
mounds in Bixport church-yard. Mean
while, her love for good Mrs. Flagg
and the Captain grows even stronger
as the days 90 on; while they, on their
part, know no difference between Polly
and Il child of their own flesh and
blood. And that Polly and Tad are the
best of friends goes without saying,
while they seem to exercise a sort of
joint proprietorship in Bounce, who
grows bigger, more affectionate, know
ing and grutf-yoiced every week,
while